THE ARTIST . . .

Edwin was born in Feltham, Middlesex, England in May 1949.

Owing to poor housing conditions, which were prevalent following World War 2, his early life was plagued by ill health. He simultaneously contacted polio and measles, which left him delicate and with no permanent problems apart from poor balance and partial deafness. These conditions precluded any interest in physical or sporting activities, making it a logical expedient for him to learn drawing and plasticine modelling.

At six years old, Edwin was already a competent draughtsman, electing to draw all manner of subjects but especially aircraft and strange monsters, both of which became perennial favourites.

Edwin's childhood proved crucial to his early development as an artist, to such an extent that most paintings are a voyage back to this innocently mischievous and magical state.

It was not until well into adulthood - when he was 24 - that he began to paint, yet somehow the full impact of visual stimuli from the distant past of his childhood made its influence apparent.

Without being consciously aware , Edwin was a discriminating observer, being attracted only to imagery that was rendered with care and imagination. Comics, especially The Eagle, illustrated textbooks and encyclopaedias were absorbed with a voracious appetite. At seven years old, he became mesmerised by the Rain Forest paintings of Rudolph Zallinger, which were published in a Time'Life encyclopaedia during the 1950's. Even today Edwin occasionally produces a painting within this genre as homage to a man he considers to be a wonderful artist.

Edwin feels that he has developed a heightened sense of the absurd. This, coupled with a child like perpective on human activity and foibles, defines his artistic identity.